Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial

When the Civil War started and the Union took Alexandria many escaped slaves, called Contraband, poured into the city to escape their former masters. This overcrowding caused a high mortality rate. The soldiers seized a undeveloped plot of land and turned it into a cemetery. More than 1,700 Freedmen and Contrabands were buried here, Of course it was forgotten, built on, and many of the graves were destroyed. Rediscovered in 1996 it is now a monunment, From what I understand about 500 graves still exist and many of the markers on the ground had only 'Grave Of An Adult' on it. BUT the lists of names suggest more knowledge of who was buried. Mostly because many of their descendants were found.
Oh, is that crow or a raven?

It's a beautiful memorial with a ton of information. I always find it a bit hard to not get emotional when I visit. Some of the grave markers are becoming overgrown with grass but otherwise it is a well maintained cemetery.

Wow.. interesting and powerful history. It’s so meaningful and it gives you a bigger perspective.

An amazing hidden treasure full of history! I got chills standing in an ancestral burial place!

On a random walk noticed the Freedmans cemetary. It's an amazing piece of history and culture. Very happy that we saw this place. It's small but the history and reflection provided is worth a visit. They also have a listing of the people buried there and and nice little fact on if their descendants have been found.

It's a small place with a very powerful message. A must visit.

It's a sobering reminder of the region's history. It's small but the information presented is well-done.

A powerful message. Moving and gut wrenching. The sculpture captured the traitorous road to freedom. The imagery of thorns and roses is apropo. Freedom is truly at the end of the road.

We believe it or not I did install all those grave markers it's 645 of them

Encountered this roadside park and memorial by chance, explored for a couple hours. Preserved site and interpretive signage on an interesting and overlooked footnote to history. No services, food, or weather shelter.

Beautiful piece of American history. A graveyard that has a very sad past (previously defaced and not respected) but now has a sculpture in memory of those lost and as much information about the souls listed as possible. 💙

Finally a place in OLD TOWN Alexandria that speaks to me personally.

Beautiful memorial and a step in the right direction to start peeling away at the white washing of local history.

This was an awesome field trip of AA History
In the D.C. area.
Glad I came.

Stopped and checked it out. Neat stuff 👌

Was here at 245 a.m. last week. Powerful experience #1vote

Just walking by at sunset and noticed the beautiful sculptures.

A window into our tragic past. Definitely worth stopping, reading and learning.

Nicely kept cemetery. Unknown African Americans.

A major part of Alexandria history is here